A/N The time has come to finally reveal who is at the door. Thanks for all the lovely reviews regarding this story. You guys and gals are the best and I'm hugging each and every one of you in my mind. I hope you enjoy!

Time stood still, the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat permeated his eardrums. Flashes of red clouded his vision as the person standing before him started to speak. He could see their lips moving, but the continuous thump, thump, thump drowned out everything they were saying. Suddenly a high-pitched wail sliced through the shock and anger that had taken over his body and thrust him back into reality. Shaking his head to clear it, Gibbs momentarily forgot about the person at the door and quickly turned toward the family room. Tim was struggling to break free from Tony's grip and it was quite apparent that he was upset over Gibbs' reaction. Gibbs was about to open his mouth to try to console his son when the visitor spoke, "Aren't you going to let me in? It's freezing out here!"

Gibbs growled and turned his attention back toward the door. "You're not welcome here, Jack," he hissed, grabbing the door and slamming it shut. Alarmed, Ducky rose from his seat and murmured, "I know he has hurt both of you, Jethro, but I really think you need to listen to what he has to say." The others watched as a deep shade of red grew over their Boss' face and Tony was certain that smoke would soon be billowing out of his ears like in the cartoons.

Clenching his fists, Gibbs took a few steps toward the family room and roared, "You three take Tim upstairs to his room!" Tony, Ziva and Abby quickly stood up, made their way across the family room and into the entryway. Tim was sobbing softly and reached out for Gibbs as Tony attempted to pass. Sighing, Gibbs wiped the tears from the toddler's face, kissed him on the forehead and whispered, "Don't worry, sweetie, daddy has a few things he needs to take care of and then I'll come and get you, okay?" Tim continued to cry as Gibbs signaled for the team to head upstairs. It broke his heart to see his little boy distraught, but there was no way in hell he was going to let his father see him at this time. When he heard Tim's door close he turned back to Ducky and snapped, "What the hell were you thinking, inviting him here?"

Ducky exhaled, "I assure you I didn't invite him, Jethro." He paused, "Your father called me a few weeks ago and wanted to talk. Believe me, I was very hesitant at first, but I could hear the hurt, despair, and desperation in his voice." Gibbs huffed and folded his arms across his chest, "All of which he brought on by his own actions."

"You're most certainly correct, my friend. However, after only a few minutes of speaking with him I realized there is something deeper going on. Perhaps an explanation as to why he reacted the way he did. If there's anything we've all learned over the past few months is that life is too short and can change drastically at the drop of a hat. At least hear what he has to say, it is Christmas after all and who knows how much longer the two of you will have to reconcile."

Gibbs suddenly remembered the promise he'd made to Iris. He'd pledged to try and make amends with Jack before it was too late. Smiling as he recalled their conversation, he was glad the Kleins had agreed to spend New Year's in Virginia and he was looking forward to introducing them to the family. Ducky was confused as to why Gibbs was smiling, given the fury of rage he'd witnessed moments ago and gently patted him on the arm, "You okay, my dear? What were you thinking about just now?"

"A promise, one that I'd made to a very special lady." Marching toward the door he flung it open and was not surprised to see Jack sitting on the small bench he'd made for Tim. Shivering, the older man stood up, "Before you saw anything else I want you to know that you have every right to be disgusted with me, son. No matter how many times I apologize I know it will never be enough. Please let me come in and explain and then you'll never have to see me again." Gibbs took a deep breath, moved aside and beckoned for Jack to step inside. The older man appeared relieved and started to hobble inside, only to stop halfway, reaching back for his suitcase.

"Leave it! The only reason I've agreed to speak with you is because of a promise I made to someone who is accepting of me being a father again. I will not allow you to stay in my house after all the terrible and hurtful things you said to me and my son. Whether you choose to accept it or not, I have a little boy and it's my responsibility to make sure he feels safe in his own home."

"But..." Jack protested, immediately snapping his mouth shut when he saw the look on his son's face. Continuing into the house, Jack greeted Ducky with a handshake, "You're looking good, sir. How are you healing?"

Ducky glanced nervously at Gibbs and then back at Jack, "I'm going to leave you two to chat."

Clearing his throat, Gibbs gestured toward the couch, "Go sit down, Duck. You're in no condition to be trouncing upstairs. We'll talk in the basement."

The older man knew better than to argue with Gibbs and started back toward the couch, "If you two need anything please let me know. I may not be in the best physical shape, but that doesn't mean my brain is lacking."

"Nobody said it was, Duck. Please relax and don't even think about cleaning up the ice cream I spilled. I'll take care of it later." After Ducky was firmly planted on the couch, Gibbs crooked his finger at Jack, ordering him to follow him downstairs. The older man shivered slightly as he descended the stairs behind his son. He had spent plenty of time in the basement when he'd visited in the past, however this time it didn't have the same warm familiar feeling it normally did. He took a seat on one of the wooden stools and rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them. "Do you still keep some bourbon down here?" His eyes skimming over the crowded shelves. "I could sure use a drink to warm up after waiting out in the cold."

Gibbs shook his head and folded his arms across his chest, "You're not a guest here. In fact, you're lucky I allowed you to come inside rather than speaking to you out on the front porch."

Jack knew he was taking a chance when he decided to show up unexpectedly, but it was a risk he was willing to take in order to apologize. He wasn't even sure Leroy would agree to speak with him and now that he had, it was important he speak from the heart. The way he'd reacted and the argument the two had had made him physically ill and he needed to make peace. He'd let his son down when he needed him the most and would never forgive himself for that. "Please take a seat, Leroy."

Huffing, Gibbs leaned back against the counter, "I'd rather stand."

"Very well." Jack responded as he peeled back his coat, reached into the inside pocket and pulled out a small leather bound journal that tied in the front. After straightening the tie and bending the leather back into place he extended his arm in Gibbs' direction and mumbled, "There's something you need to read in here, son."

XXX

Tony quickly scooped another spoonful of ice cream into Timmy's awaiting mouth, chuckling at the satisfied look on the toddler's face. After retreating to the bedroom they had all failed to console Timmy who only wanted his daddy and rightfully so. It wasn't until Tony noticed Abby's half-eaten bowl of ice cream that they were able to calm him down. Now, Tim sat comfortably in Abby's lap while Tony continued to feed him. They all hoped that once the bowl was empty they could distract him long enough for Gibbs to speak with Jack.

Tony knew there had been a disagreement between the two men in Stillwater and that Jack had said some upsetting things, but he was unsure how cruel the elderly man had been until he saw Gibbs' reaction when he opened the door. Over the past month it had become evident to the others that something had happened as Gibbs never mentioned his father, but raved about Tim's honorary grandparents, Ezra and Iris. They all knew that Gibbs had had issues with his father in the past and hoped the two men would eventually work it out.

Abby, still reeling from Gibbs' reaction, leaned down and kissed the top of Tim's head, "I've always been fond of Jack and he gives the best hugs, but I don't appreciate the fact that he's hurt Timmy and Gibbs."

Sighing, Ziva used a baby wipe to clean Tim's face. It was then that she realized there were only a few more scoops in the bowl and glanced around the room looking for a toy to distract Tim. "I am still surprised by the fact that he showed up unannounced." Reaching into the crib she grabbed hold of Hero and playfully bounced the stuffed dog on her lap.

"Oh, I don't think it was totally unannounced, Ziva. Sure, Boss didn't know he was coming, however I'll bet you a million bucks that Ducky expected him."

"You think Ducky called him?"

Tony shrugged his shoulders and groaned, "Ah, I can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth, but it's none of our business. Besides, I've felt the wrath of Gibbs before and I certainly don't want to get in the middle of a fight between the two of them." Shoveling the last bite of ice cream into Timmy's mouth he clucked his tongue, "All done, kiddo. Was it yummy?"

Tim's bottom lip poked out causing ice cream to spill out of the corners of his mouth. Ziva chuckled, grabbed another wipe and proceeded to clean his entire face and hands. "I give it five minutes before the sugar kicks in..." She patted Tony on the back and continued, "I hope you have plenty of energy."

Abby grinned devilishly and added, "You're going to need it, Uncle Tony."

Swallowing a yawn, Tony gathered Timmy in his arms and gingerly stood up. "What should we do Timmy boy?"

"Howsey!" The toddler exclaimed, bouncing up and down in Tony's arms.

"What's horsey?" Abby asked, glancing around at the piles of toys strewn throughout the bedroom. "Is there a toy horse that he enjoys playing with?"

Ziva snickered and gestured to Tony, "Yep, there sure is and coincidentally his name is Tony."

"I'm the human horsey, Abs. Normally Gibbs will put Timmy on my back and the little guy will wrap his arms around my neck while I take him for a ride. The problem is, while it's a nice workout for me it doesn't allow him to burn off any energy."

"Oh, I've got to see this!" Abby shrieked, taking Tim from Tony's arms. "Come on, horsey, get down." Tony rolled his eyes and sunk onto the floor. Tim clapped excitedly as Abby positioned him on top of Tony's back. The pair had played 'horsey' many times before and Tim knew exactly where to position his arms to keep from falling. Once she was certain that Tim was secure, Abby pulled out her cell phone and started snapping pictures. "Look over here, kids!"

Drool dripped from Tim's mouth and onto Tony's neck as he flashed a mostly toothless grin. "Eww!" Tony groaned, reaching up to wipe the drool from his neck. "Will you hurry up, Abs!"

"Calm down! If you'd actually smile instead of whining about a little baby drool then we'd be done already." Tony huffed and smiled widely as Abby took one more photo of the pair.

"Perfect!"

"Now... Giddy Up!" Ziva bellowed, lightly smacking Tony on the ass. Tony did his best impression of a horse whinnying and started zigzagging back and forth across the room. Normally when they played they had the entire downstairs to explore, but now Tony would have to get creative to keep the youngster engaged and happy. As the two tooled around the room, Tony occasionally imitating sounds a horse would make, Ziva and Abby giggled as they scrolled through the series of pictures.

XXX

Gibbs swallowed past the lump in his throat and slowly reached out to take the journal from Jack's trembling hand. The initials 'A.G.' had been inscribed on the cover and he used his finger to trace the letters. "This belonged to mom?" He questioned, holding the journal up to his nose, hoping the scent of her perfume lingered on the pages.

Jack nodded, his face growing paler as Gibbs opened the front cover. "I was cleaning out some old boxes in the garage when I found it. In fact, it was a few days before you showed up with Timothy." The older man's voice caught in his throat and he paused to collect himself. Gibbs stopped thumbing through the journal and looked up to see Jack blinking back tears. It had been a long time since he'd seen his dad this emotional, the only two times he could remember him crying were at the funerals for Anne, Shannon and Kelly. Gibbs felt his knees weaken and he collapsed onto one of the stools. "You want to tell me what's going on?"

The older man pulled out a handkerchief and blotted the tears that were now flowing freely down his face. Unable to speak he took the journal from Gibbs and flipped to the page he'd earmarked for easy accessibility. Handing the journal back to his son he slumped back in the chair and watched as his eyes skimmed across the faded ink.

XXX

The past couple of days have been heartbreaking. I feel so alone. I was surprised to learn that I was pregnant and excited to share the news with Jack and Leroy. The first few months I had been feeling good and often dreamed whether I would have another boy or a precious little girl. I was planning on telling the boys when the three-month mark rolled around and had been hiding my barely there bump under loose clothing. I wanted to surprise them and couldn't wait to see the look on both of their faces. Suddenly I became quite ill - I knew it wasn't morning sickness - and went to the doctor for another check up. I was told my sweet baby had passed away and there wasn't anything they could do about it. Life isn't fair! I can't possibly tell Jack and Leroy as I know they would be inconsolable. Our marriage is already rocky and I don't think it would survive such a devastating loss. I was hoping this new baby would help us rebuild our relationship and bring us closer as a family. When the boys are around I keep on a brave face but a few times I've had to lock myself in the bathroom and cry into a towel to keep from being discovered. I can't wait to meet my sweet angel again someday when God decides it's my time. Until then I'll mourn the loss of my little one...alone.

XXX

Slowly closing the journal Gibbs drew in a deep, shuddering breath and looked up at his father. Both men had tears streaming down their faces and all Gibbs wanted to do was fall into his father's arms and mourn the loss together. He knew what it felt like to loose a child, regardless if a child was ten years old or still in utero, it was still a devastating situation. Although he was still upset about Jackson's behavior this certainly wasn't the time to confront him about it. He was convinced the two of them had questions for each other, however they could wait until after they had grieved. Sliding off the stool he took a few wobbly steps in his father's direction and started sobbing when Jack opened his arms for a hug. Collapsing into his arms both men cried for the loss of their family member and the betrayal they felt after not knowing all these years. Gibbs wasn't sure how long they had been embracing, but when both of their tears had turned into sniffles he stepped away from his father.

"How about that drink?" He whispered, wiping the remaining tears from his cheeks with the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

Jack simply nodded, wiping his own tear-stained cheeks with a handkerchief. After pouring two glasses of bourbon, Gibbs handed one to Jack and raised his glass up to toast, "To my baby brother or sister."

"To my sweet angel. Rest in Peace." Jack added, clanking both their glasses together and taking a small sip. The two sat in silence, each unsure of what the other was thinking until Jack cleared his throat, "I'll be the first to admit I haven't always been the best father."

"Dad we don't have to do this now. We've both been through a lot tonight."

Nodding, the older man continued, "Yes, we do Leroy. Please let me speak." Gibbs took another sip of bourbon and signaled for Jack to continue.

"First and foremost I want you to know how proud I am of the man you've become. You were a fantastic husband and father to Shannon and Kelly. However, I know you'll be an even better father to young Timothy. As I mentioned earlier, I discovered your mom's journal a few days before you arrived in Stillwater. I had been debating how to tell you, it wasn't something you discuss casually over the phone. When you walked into my store with Tim in your arms my mind flashbacked to your mom's admission." He paused and took another sip of bourbon before continuing, "As much as this pains me to admit and makes me realize what a jackass I am, I need to tell you the truth. I was jealous. I immediately saw a strong bond between the two of you and how much you love each other. Even though the miscarriage was not your mom's fault I couldn't help but wonder why you were given the opportunity to be a father again and I was not so lucky. I wish I could take back everything I said that day, unfortunately I can't and I want you to know again how deeply sorry I am for everything. Tim is the most adorable little baby that I've seen in a long time and I would love to get to know him better when you decide the time is right."

Gibbs stood and paced back and forth across the basement. Although Jack's apology appeared sincere it was going to take some time before he could forgive the older man. "Thanks for apologizing, Dad. I can't imagine how tough this news has been on you. After our argument in Stillwater I was ready to have you out of my life... forever."

Jack swallowed past the baseball size lump in his throat as a fresh set of tears threatened to fall. "I'm grateful you didn't, son." Gibbs pulled the stool up close to Jack and sat down. Patting him on the knee he continued, "I expected you to be shocked when I told you the story of Tim's regression and how I was legally his father. What I didn't expect was for you to be so cruel. Believe it or not I still need your advice and the reassurance that everything happens for a reason and will eventually work out. However, you only made it worse, not to mention you scared the crap out of my son."

He paused and ran his fingers through his hair, "We've had quite a few arguments over the years, but none have been as explosive as the one in Stillwater. At least I have an explanation as to why you acted the way you did, but I'm still hurt by it. It's going to take some time for me to heal before I can forgive you and my sole responsibility is the happiness and health of my son." Sighing he added, "I wasn't the perfect father either, however I'm trying to learn from my mistakes and make sure they don't happen again with Timmy. I appreciate you coming to tell me about all this in person, dad. We'll continue to work on our relationship, but unfortunately I can't have you around Timmy tonight. I'm sure Ducky wouldn't mind a houseguest while you're here."

Although Jackson was disappointed he wouldn't get a chance to see Tim right now he understood why and was looking forward to spoiling his new grandson. It had been a long time since he cuddled with a little one and he couldn't wait until the day when they would be best buddies. He would work hard to earn the trust of both his son and new grandson. Grandson - yeah - he loved the sound of that.

"I understand, Leroy. You have to make whatever decision is best for your family." The older man stood up and clasped Gibbs' shoulder, "I'm really proud of you, the way you've handled everything. I look forward to working on our relationship and getting through this together."

Nodding, Gibbs grabbed his dad's hand and patted it, "I just need some space and time to process everything. More than anything I need to hug and kiss my boy."

Cupping Gibbs' cheek with his free hand, Jack placed a paternal kiss on the younger man's forehead, "I know what it feels like to want to smoother your son with love and admiration. I've kept you from him for long enough. Let's head back upstairs."